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Mike, a 390# gorilla takes a stroll outside his containment at S.C. Riverbanks Zoo

By Steve Lombardi

A family from Greenville, in town to attend a pony show, visited the zoo and got the surprise of their lives. What they saw was a gorilla, "Mike", on the loose. This woman describes a another mother with young boy in a stroller coming face to face with the escaped gorilla. The woman came face to face with the gorilla. The gorilla looked into the stroller, growls; then the woman pushing the stroller shakes the stroller and the gorilla takes off. Lucky is she. Look at the size and strength of a 300# gorilla in the videos that follow this story.

Place: Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbus

What: A gorilla reportedly named Mike, temporarily escaped from its cage and for approximately five minutes walked amongst the visiting public. The general public was asked to either go inside buildings on the zoo grounds or the leave the park. That appears to be the protocol when there is an escape during visiting hours. Which is a warning to those who go to the zoo.

If you're ever at the zoo and an animal escapes get inside a building.

Why: The zoo's explanation follows the AP report.

COLUMBIA — A 390-pound gorilla grabbed some low-hanging bamboo Friday to scale a wall at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, escaping his enclosure and tackling a worker before returning to his pen about five minutes later.

The gorilla ran into a pizza-stand employee who curled up and played dead to try to avoid further injuries, officials said. The man, who works for Aramark Corp., was taken to a hospital and released a short time later with cuts and bruises.

Associate Press Report

When: Friday, June 12, 2009, sometime before noon and reported as 9:25 A.M..

Zoo Statement of Incident: June 12, 2009, PR Department

[Columbia, SC] - This morning, at 9:25am, one of the gorillas broke containment at Riverbanks Zoo. Consistent with our safety protocols, the 325 guests visiting at the time were immediately escorted either out of the Zoo or into secure indoor buildings because public health and safety are our top priority. Within five minutes, the gorilla was contained safely back in its exhibit. Within 45 minutes, the Zoo was back in operation with business as usual. By this afternoon there were more than 2,000 visitors enjoying the park. The gorillas are fine; although during the incident, one food service employee at the Zoo experienced minor injuries. This employee was treated and released from the hospital several hours later.

There is a video taped interview of the woman who attempted to warn zoo goers, but she was pretty much ignored.

The Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens has several gorillas.

WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA The tropical rainforests of western Africa are home to western lowland gorillas. Riverbanks currently has three gorillas (Chaka, Mike and Kimya). The all-male group was transferred from Philadelphia Zoo on July 13, 2004.

Fact Sheet:

When they encounter gorillas, many people think of the well-known research by Diane Fossey, as featured in the film "Gorillas in the Mist." It is important to point out that those are mountain gorillas, and the gorillas at Riverbanks are western lowland gorillas. However, research such as this has allowed zoos to advance their breeding capabilities so that no gorillas have been brought to US zoos from the wild since the 1970s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAR0hzib1pU

A silverback gorilla can be seen at 1:01 in the following YouTube video of the animals at the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw172zIey8Y

Gorillas aggression with each other at the Wichita, KS Zoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-JaYHMVFpM

More gorilla aggressive play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mov-Zfsr0Uk

Have you ever wondered what a gorilla looks like close up?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFFmY9Adjuc

A 300 # Silverback Male Gorilla in the Congo Wilds – National Geographic footage showing an older and a younger males dominating behavior and intimidating size.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDxA8-01cp4

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 14, 2009 (boomark / email).